Edwaed b



(No Model.)

MUSIGHOLDER.

Patented Aug. 30, 1881 w mi P a. v

N. PETERS. PhokrLilhngmphur. Wnhiflghm. n. c.

INITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD B. PHELPS AND ANDREW PARTRIDGE, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

MUSIC-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,550, dated August 30, 1881,

Application filed June 8, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD B. PHELPS and ANDREW PARTRIDGE, citizens of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Music-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device to be used in connection with the music-stand of that class of musical instrumentsuch as the piano and organ-h avin g the stand a permanent part of its structure; and the object of the invention is to provide an easy and sure means of retaining the open leaves of abook or sheet of music resting on the stand in their proper position, and this we accomplish by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a plan view of the entire machine; Fig.1l, a front elevation of the same, and Fig. III a section upon the line 00a; of Fig. I.

B is the base-piece, formed to fit snugly in the space between the bottom of the rack and the rim or cleat, usually depended upon to prevent the open leaves of music from having any movement. The base, being made flat beneath to conform throughout its whole extent to the surface upon which it rests, is also flattened upon its top to seat the slide 0, carrying the guard D. The slide 0 is held in ways to its seat upon the part B, so that its track, when moving, shall be directly across the base B, and it is provided with a clamp-screw, c, as a means of securing it in the required position.

Tothe slide G is secured the guard D, of such configuration as to come against the outer surface of the leaves of an open book or folio having its back resting upon the music-rack or holder of the instrument. The guard D bears against said open leaves near the lower edge ofthe same, and extends entirely, or nearly entirely, their whole width, and, while offering no obstacle to their manual movement, effectually prevents a draft of air, the elasticity of the binding, or other causes from operating to move the leaves against which it comes. The adjustability of the guard D by means of its slide 0 enables it to be moved to retain flatly spread the open leaves of the thickest musicbook or thinnest sheet-music.

In order that the entire device may retain its position where placed upon the instrument without recourse to any means of attachment thereto, and in order that the base B may have sufficient stability to enable the guard D, forminga partofit, to maintain properly spread out the stifi'est music-book, we heavily weight the base B, preferably by forming it of metal, and, to prevent possible injury to the polished wooden surface, cover the entire metal base with a soft material, such as velvet or felt.

The whole device thus constructed is simple and effective to overcome the difficulty heretofore experienced by musicians of keeping a book or folio of music open while using both hands upon thekey-board,and it can be placed or removed at pleasure without the slightest risk of injury to the instrument, as owing to the covering no hard surface comes in contact with the instrument, nor is it necessary to break its surface at any point to afford any means of attachment.

In practice We form the slide (J, as shown in the drawings, to have its ends move between the corresponding straightedges ofguidesHH,

secured by screws to the part B, and a clampscrew, 0, having its stem pass through the open slotd of the slide, serves to bind the slide in the required position.

The guard D is formed of a single wire, having its ends secured to the slide (3, and of configuration to have its bearing portion present, as shown in the plan view, a straight edge to correspond to the surface of the outstretched music, while its profile, as seen in Fig. II, shows a depression in the center and opposite the point where the leaves of music having their hinge have least play, and an inclined plane upon each end to lead the leaves easily over the guard when turned by hand.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The COIllblll21tlOll,Wltll aweightcd base adapted to rest at the bottom of the music-rack of a key-board instrument, of the adjustable guard adapted to be moved upon the base and held thereto to bear against and hold the exposed leaves of music books or folios resting against the rack, substantially as shown and described,

EDWARD B. PHELPS. ANDREW PARTRIDGE. Witnesses:

R. F. HYDE, T. M. BROWN. 

